“The auspicious hour has already arrived. Why is the bridegroom still sitting on the cattle?” said He Dahua pointedly.
Wen Ruhua paid no attention to him and stared straight at Ning Shu. Ning Shu immediately walked over. “Cousin, it’s about time for you to get down and perform the ritual kneeling.”
“I’ve said so before, I won’t marry He Xiaohua.” Wen Ruhua sounded peeved, but also seemed to be hoping for something as he looked at Ning Shu.
Meanwhile, He Dahua glared at Wen Ruhua with murderous intent. The village chief’s face turned black and he ordered for someone to drag Wen Ruhua off the cattle and towards the main hall.
Wen Ruhua wanted to struggle, but there was no way a weak scholar like him would be able to hold his own against a villager that was used to rough work, especially when he was injured.
Wen Ruhua was forced through the ritual motions. When he heard the words ‘ceremony complete,’ something in his heart seemed to explode and left him feeling empty.
Ning Shu watched as various expressions flashed across Wen Ruhua’s face that was red from fury. The only expression that didn’t cross his face was joy.
She walked in and smiled sweetly towards the village chief. “Village Chief, I’ll leave my cousin in your care. This is the dowry I prepared for my cousin. I heard that the ginseng that saved my cousin’s life was your most treasured possession, so I specially sent someone to the city to buy another ginseng.”
Ning Shu took the ginseng from Yue Lan’s hands and passed it to the village chief. When the village chief opened the box and found that the quality of the ginseng was not much different from the one he had, joy immediately lit up his face. “Alright, alright, there’s no need to be so polite. We’re of the same family, we’re all family.”
When Wen Ruhua saw the ginseng, his eyes turned red and he demanded, “Why didn’t you take the ginseng out before? Why? Why!?” If Bai Qinxiang had taken out the ginseng earlier, he wouldn’t have had to marry He Xiaohua and go through such a humiliating experience.
She should’ve just given the ginseng back to the He family! Had she done that, he wouldn’t have fallen to such dire straits just because of a ginseng.
Inwardly, Ning Shu remarked, because I love the way you look as you struggle futilely.
Ning Shu acted taken aback. “I didn’t have ginseng before. I had only sent someone to buy this one since you were getting married to give to you as a congratulatory gift. Cousin, did I do something wrong?”
Wen Ruhua’s heart was burning up with anger. He felt the urge to claw at his chest and scream at the sky. He felt that he would go crazy if he continued suppressing his anger like this.
Wen Ruhua pulled off the big red ribbon flower on his chest and threw it on the ground. “You guys have your ginseng back, so there’s no way I’m marrying He Xiaohua.”
The village chief’s expression turned cold. He Dahua said, “You damned bastard! Want to bet and see if you can make it out of this ceremonial hall alive? If you can, I’ll change my surname to yours!”
Meanwhile, He Xiaohua pulled her veil off and glared at Wen Ruhua. Her normally enchanting and festively red makeup turned sinister with her expression as she said, “Shut up, we’re going to the bridal chamber!”